Nanomedicine Approaches for Corneal Diseases

Journal of Functional Biomaterials

Shyam S. Chaurasia³  Rayne R. Lim³  Rajamani Lakshminarayanan¹  Rajiv R. Mohan² 

[1] Singapore Eye Research Institute, 20 College Road, 169856, Singapore;Harry S. Truman Memorial Veteran Hospital, Columbia, MO 65201, USA;Department of Ophthalmology Veterinary Medicine & Surgery, Columbia, MO 65211, USA; E-Mails:

关键词: corneal diseases;    infection;    scarring;    fibrosis;    neovascularization;    nanoparticles;    nanomedicine;    nanomaterials;    nanodelivery;   

DOI  :  10.3390/jfb6020277

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Corneal diseases are the third leading cause of blindness globally. Topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), steroids, antibiotics and tissue transplantation are currently used to treat corneal pathological conditions. However, barrier properties of the ocular surface necessitate high concentration of the drugs applied in the eye repeatedly. This often results in poor efficacy and several side-effects. Nanoparticle-based molecular medicine seeks to overcome these limitations by enhancing the permeability and pharmacological properties of the drugs. The promise of nanomedicine approaches for treating corneal defects and restoring vision without side effects in preclinical animal studies has been demonstrated. Numerous polymeric, metallic and hybrid nanoparticles capable of transporting genes into desired corneal cells to intercept pathologic pathways and processes leading to blindness have been identified. This review provides an overview of corneal diseases, nanovector properties and their applications in drug-delivery and corneal disease management.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.